Commonwealth v. Jackson

On appeal from his convictions on a complaint charging him with distributing cocaine within a school zone, the defendant argues that the credibility of his sole witness was improperly and prejudicially undermined by impeachment with convictions inadmissible under G. L. c. 233, § 21, and profile evidence indicating that the witness was lying. We reverse the convictions.

1. The evidence. In the early morning hours of August 19, 1994, two Boston police officers were hiding behind bushes in *667the Beechland Street housing project. Sharing binoculars, the officers saw the defendant and Victor Kipping1…